Bundestag votes in favour of EU ban on single-use plastics - association lacks planning security
In the evening, the Bundestag cleared the way for an EU-wide ban on single-use plastics from summer 2021, with industry representatives criticising the lack of clarity in the new directive. Companies are unable to assess where they stand.
7 October 2020
(Image: Shutterstock/Kanittha Boon)
This evening, the Bundestag passed amendments to the Circular Economy Act in its third reading. If the Bundesrat also gives its approval, this would pave the way for an EU-wide ban on single-use plastics in Germany from summer 2021. Industry representatives criticise the lack of clarity in the new directive. Companies are unable to assess where they stand.
In the run-up to the Bundestag's decision, there was much discussion about the planned change in the law. Product bans are the state's sharpest sword, The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (Industrial Association for Plastic Packaging) said shortly before the vote. It would have preferred a parliamentary law instead of a mere statutory order. Now that this has been passed by the Bundestag, IK Managing Director Dr Martin Engelmann explains in an interview with packaging journal TV The new directive is almost impossible to understand, even for experts. not to be understood.
IK Managing Director Dr Martin Engelmann. (Image: IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen)
„There are a lot of undefined legal terms that are very much open to interpretation. Unfortunately, the Commission has failed to adopt the implementation guidelines, which are supposed to be presented by the summer of this year, in good time, so that the companies affected are unable to assess exactly where they stand now.“ Dr Martin Engelman, Managing Director of IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V.
Manufacturers don't know where they stand
During the consultations, it had been rumoured that manufacturers of single-use plastics should share in the costs of disposal. However, there is apparently no clarity on this yet. Companies lack sufficient planning and legal certainty, which is why the industry association wants to advocate the swift adoption of the guidelines at European level.
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„Above all, it is important that the requirements are implemented uniformly across Europe. Unfortunately, we have to recognise that in many EU countries, e.g. France, there is a tendency to go beyond theDirective to regulate certain other aspects and ban plastic packaging for certain applications. And this is of course a significant obstacle in an internal market that relies on packaged goods being able to circulate freely between member states.“ Dr Martin Engelman, Managing Director of IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V.
A threat to prosperity and innovation?
This is why the IK Managing Director, in an interview with packaging journal TV, that the internal market will continue to Standardised regulations for packaging exists. This is an essential prerequisite for the free movement of goods. Otherwise, he sees a major threat to the prosperity and innovative strength of companies in Europe.
